Information processing apparatus, method and computer readable medium for fixing an input position according to an input operation

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus including an input position acquisition unit, a depressing force acquisition unit and an input control unit. An input position acquisition unit obtains an input position detected with respect to an input operation. A depressing force acquisition unit obtains a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation. An input control unit fixes the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 obtain an input position detected with respect to an input operation; 
 obtain a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation; 
 fix the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information; and 
 cancel fixing of the input candidate position, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and 
 
 cancel fixing of the input candidate position, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value. 
 
     
     
       2. An input control method of an information processing apparatus, comprising:
 obtaining, using circuitry of the information processing apparatus, an input position detected with respect to an input operation; 
 obtaining, using the circuitry, a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation; 
 fixing, using the circuitry, the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information; and 
 cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and 
 cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value. 
 
     
     
       3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by circuitry of a computer, cause the computer to execute an input control method of an information processing apparatus, comprising:
 obtaining, using by circuitry, an input position detected with respect to an input operation; 
 obtaining, using by the circuitry, a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation; 
 fixing, using by the circuitry, the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information; and 
 cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using by the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and 
 cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, by the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value. 
 
     
     
       4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
 a touch panel, wherein   the input operation is performed by a user touching the touch panel at the input position with the depressing force, and   the circuitry is configured to detect the input operation to obtain the input position and the depressing force.   
     
     
       5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
 the touch panel includes a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer, and   the pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer deforms with respect to depression of the touch panel according to the depressing force of the input operation at the input position.   
     
     
       6. The input control method according to claim 2, wherein
 the information processing apparatus includes a touch panel,   the input operation is performed by a user touching the touch panel at the input position with the depressing force, and   the input control method further comprises detecting, by the circuitry, the input operation on the touch panel to obtain the input position and to obtain the depressing force.   
     
     
       7. The input control method according to claim 6, wherein
 the touch panel includes a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer, and   the pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer deforms with respect to depression of the touch panel according to the depressing force of the input operation at the input position.